Dilemma
noun
Definition
A difficult situation where you must choose between two options, often with neither being ideal
Context Alive
Maria stares at two job offers on her desk, facing an impossible dilemma. One pays much better but requires moving far from her family, while the other keeps her close to home but offers little room for growth. She’s been thinking about it for days and still can’t decide.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Difficult Choice Between Two Options — VERY COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about being stuck between two choices where neither feels perfect. Imagine facing a dilemma about whether to tell your friend the truth and hurt her feelings, or stay quiet and feel dishonest. This is a dilemma — a tough decision with no easy answer. You might face a dilemma about spending money on rent or saving for the future, or parents could face a dilemma about which school to choose for their child. Or picture a doctor facing an ethical dilemma about a patient’s treatment options. The word suggests being torn between choices.
Vivid ExampleHe faced a real dilemma when both his best friend and his girlfriend planned birthday parties on the same night, and he knew someone would be hurt no matter which one he chose.
Examples from the Street
“I’m facing a real dilemma — do I take the job or stay with my family?”
I’m in a really tough situation — do I accept the position or remain close to my loved ones?
“It’s a classic dilemma — save money or enjoy life now.”
It’s a typical difficult choice — put cash aside or have fun in the present
“What a dilemma! Both options seem equally bad.”
What a tricky situation! Neither choice looks any better than the other
Common Patterns
face/be faced with a dilemma → encounter a difficult choice
a real/serious dilemma → a genuinely difficult situation
a moral/ethical dilemma → a choice involving right and wrong
be in a dilemma → currently struggling with a difficult choice
resolve/solve a dilemma → find a way through a difficult choice
a classic/typical dilemma → a commonly experienced difficult choice
a terrible/awful dilemma → an extremely difficult situation
a personal/professional dilemma → a difficult choice in private life or work
a common dilemma → a difficult choice many people face
the dilemma of doing something → the difficult choice related to something
present/pose a dilemma → create a difficult situation
escape/avoid a dilemma → find a way out of a difficult choice
on the horns of a dilemma → caught between two equally bad options (formal/literary)
Collocations
4 collocationsmoral dilemma
a choice between two ethically difficult options
face a dilemma
be forced to choose between tough options
ethical dilemma
a conflict between moral principles
resolve a dilemma
find a way through a difficult choice
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
She faced a real dilemma — tell the truth and hurt her friend, or lie and protect her
She encountered a genuinely difficult choice — be honest and cause her companion pain, or deceive her and keep her safe.
2
Many parents face the dilemma of whether to return to work or stay home with their children
Lots of mothers and fathers struggle with the tough decision of going back to their jobs or remaining at home with their kids.
3
It’s a classic dilemma — do I follow my head or my heart?
It’s a typical tough situation — do I listen to logic or to my emotions?
4
The doctor was faced with a moral dilemma when the patient refused life-saving treatment
The physician encountered an ethical crisis when the sick person rejected care that would keep them alive.
5
I’m in a dilemma about whether to accept the promotion — it means moving abroad
I’m struggling with whether to take the new position — it requires relocating to another country.
6
The government faces the dilemma of cutting spending or raising taxes
The authorities are caught between the difficult options of reducing expenditure or increasing what citizens pay.
7
Climate change presents a dilemma for businesses trying to balance profit and sustainability
Environmental issues create a tough situation for companies attempting to make money while being eco-friendly.
8
How do you resolve the dilemma when both choices seem equally bad?
How do you find a way forward when neither option appears any better than the other?
9
She found herself on the horns of a dilemma — betray her boss or lose her job
She was trapped between two terrible options — be disloyal to her manager or face unemployment.
10
It’s a common dilemma for young people — pursue passion or choose a stable career?
It’s a frequently encountered tough choice for the youth — follow what you love or pick a secure profession?
Learner Examples
★
Many language learners face the dilemma of whether to focus on accuracy or fluency — ideally, you need both
Lots of students studying foreign tongues struggle with the choice between concentrating on correctness or natural flow — in truth, you require both abilities.
★
Teachers often face a dilemma when a struggling student asks for the answer — give it directly or guide them to discover it themselves?
Instructors frequently encounter a difficult choice when a pupil having trouble requests the solution — provide it immediately or help them figure it out on their own?
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 items Idioms & Expressionson the horns of a dilemma — facing two equally bad choices
I'm on the horns of a dilemma about which job to take.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymspredicament
a difficult situation
quandary
being unsure what to do
tough choice
having to pick between hard options
bind
informal — a tricky situation
Antonymscertainty
knowing exactly what to do
easy choice
an obvious decision